Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Review at Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a popular roller coaster attraction at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Below, we discuss the height requirement, the best times to ride, and other tips for experiencing this attraction.
“This here’s the wildest ride in the wilderness!” Those are the last words you’ll hear as a train car pulls you away into the mine that is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Those who have previously ridden the attraction can’t help but smile.
For most, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a must-do attraction for theme park fans. It’s a ride that’s remained popular with guests year after year. While this roller-coaster promises a thrill, it’s not necessarily scary. Most guests exit laughing or with a huge grin because it’s too much fun!
Here is a quick reference chart for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
| Big Thunder Mountain Railroad | Magic Kingdom |
|---|---|
Location: | Frontierland |
Height Requirement: | 40″ |
Lightning Lane: | Yes, with Multi Pass (Tier 1) |
Ride Type: | Thrill, Roller Coaster |
Seats Per Vehicle: | Generally, two per row, or one adult with two kids. |
Rider Switch: | Yes |
Early Entry: | No |
Extended Theme Park Hours: | Yes |
Good For: | Children |
Scare Factor: | Mild to Medium |
Must-Do List: | High Priority |
Perfect For: | Kids, Tweens, Teens, Adults Mild Thrill Seekers |
Special Mention: | Make sure to secure any hats or glasses. It really is the wildest ride in the wilderness. |
Additional Info: Guests in wheelchairs or ECVS must transfer to the ride vehicles. Details for those with mobility issues (e.g., wheelchairs or ECVs) can be found on Disney’s site.
Know Your Disney Rules When Riding With Children: Any child under seven must be accompanied by an adult fourteen years of age or older.
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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is located in the back of Frontierland. It sits between the Rivers of America and the former Splash Mountain, which will soon be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. As you approach the entrance, you can join the standby queue, or those who have purchased Multi Pass can use a Lightning Lane. However, a time slot for this attraction must be selected in advance.
A measurement stand is located near the attraction’s entrance. To experience Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, guests must be 40″ in height. Like the Barnstormer, this attraction is an excellent introduction to roller coasters. However, the ride lasts longer and is more thrilling than the Barnstormer.
A few warnings are posted outside the attraction. The sign below reads:
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a high-speed roller coaster ride that includes sharp turns, sudden drops, and stops. Warning! For safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back, or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.
Big Thunder’s interactive queue is full of fun elements. Thankfully, the line tends to move quickly. So you might not get a chance to see everything. Here are a few photos.
After winding through the queue, you’ll get to a point where the line splits. At that point, you can decide whether to go to the right or left side. When the line splits, it doesn’t matter which side you choose. Just keep your party together.
It will appear that one of the lines moves along much faster. However, that isn’t the case. The lines are called in rotation. So, within a few minutes, the opposite line will begin to move just as quickly.
Soon after, you will board a train car. One lap restraint bar lowers over guests. From my experience, larger adults will provide a decent amount of slack between the lap bar and smaller children riding with them. Make sure your child holds on well.
Once you board the train, you’ll race into a dark cavern where you might be sprinkled with a minimal mist of water when the sprayers are operating. Inside the tunnels, you’ll see waterfalls, bats, and stalagmites as you race toward the light at the end of the mine shaft.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has small to medium drops. You can expect a lot of sliding in your car from side to side as you race through twists and turns.
Most of the drops are small and barely tickle your tummy. Perhaps the best parts are the fast turns that leave you sliding across your seat! At times, the ride slows, leaving brief moments of anticipation as you climb the next hill before racing off again.
Some guests prefer to ride toward the front, while others think the back is a more thrilling ride. If you have a special request, ask the cast member, and they will grant your request when possible. Usually, that means skipping the boarding process to get your desired spot on the next train.
Big Thunder Mountain offers over 20 animatronics. You’ll race by Professor Cumulus Isobar, the local town rainmaker. Additionally, you’ll see chickens, pigs, possums, donkeys, goats, and rams, among other things. Everything is themed to the Gold Rush Days.
But you’ll have to look fast before the runaway train coaster whisks you away!
At some points, Cinderella Castle and Space Mountain can be seen in the distance.
When you reach the final turn, you’ll see where a few bones have been unearthed.
Your train then comes to an abrupt stop outside the mine shaft.
After you exit, an overlook makes for a fun photo spot. Often, guests who elect not to ride will stand in the area and watch for their parties to come through on the mine train.
Every time I ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, I feel like I’m on one of those Disney commercials on television. It makes me smile and laugh, no matter what. When the train pulls back into the mine, everyone giggles and proclaims they want to do it again. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, simply put, is a feel-good ride.
Other Versions of Big Thunder Mountain:
- Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California
- Disneyland Paris
- Tokyo Disneyland
Best Times to Ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad:
The best time to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is before 11:00 a.m. or later in the evening during the last couple of the park’s operating hours. You might also ride it during the Festival of Fantasy Parade. The parade cuts guests off from entering the area through Frontierland. So, wait times in this area often drop during the parade.
Additionally, you can usually ride Big Thunder Mountain during the evening fireworks. The fireworks draw crowds away from popular attractions, making for shorter lines. Of course, you can always purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass and get a return time for this attraction. So you might combine that option with one of the other best times to ride and experience the ride twice!
The Resorts Gal Spin on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
We give Big Thunder Mountain Railroad the green light. This is a thrill attraction, and even if the wait is a little longer than we would sometimes like, it’s always worth it!
Resorts Gal Traffic Signals
Green Light
We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. Therefore, the lines continuously move and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.
Red Light
We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.
You might also like to preview the list of Magic Kingdom Rides or try these nearby ride reviews.
- Pirates of the Caribbean (Magic Kingdom)
- Jungle Cruise Ride Guide
- Aladdin’s Magic Carpets
- The Hall of Presidents
In the Comments
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad truly is the wildest ride in the Wilderness! What do you think? Do you plan to ride this attraction during your vacation? Leave us a comment below with your thoughts.
